Olson slams Obama attempt to grant amnesty to five million in violation of federal law

Published 9:52 am, Thursday, November 13, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today rebuked President Obama's desperate effort to ignore the voice of the American people by attempting to circumvent the US Constitution and grant amnesty to five million undocumented immigrants.

"President Obama has neither the constitutional authority nor the support of the American public to grant amnesty to a single undocumented immigrant. Congress passes the laws and the president enforces them. He cannot unilaterally instruct our immigration agents to disregard federal laws that are in place.

"The House will use every tool at our disposal to block this illegal effort. We did not seek this war, but we stand ready to fight if he acts. If he takes this path - President Obama will ensure that his final two years as president will be met with a contentious congress. Thwarting the legislative process is a dangerous move that only hurts the American people. The Constitution and the law are clearly on our side. I will not stand by and allow this president to circumvent the will of the people and the laws of our nation."

In September, Olson introduced two common sense resolutions that affirm House opposition to any Obama amnesty action. The first resolution, H. Res. 741 clearly states that the House opposes the president's expression of intent to expand amnesty to undocumented immigrants through an Executive Order after the congressional midterm elections. The second resolution, H. Res. 742 confirms that it is unconstitutional for the President of the United States to continue to provide deferred action for childhood arrivals.